NORTH AUGUSTA, SC (WRDW/WAGT) – American Red Cross disaster preparedness volunteers are helping two families after their homes in North Augusta were damaged by wildfires.

Volunteers help 10 people by providing financial assistance for immediate needs such as food, clothing and shelter, along with other needed resources.

The fires were on Hammond Drive and Lorraine Drive.

As Thanksgiving approaches, the American Red Cross says it’s time to prepare for the holiday feast and improve fire safety.

Thanksgiving is one of the nation’s peak days for cooking fires, and the American Red Cross of South Carolina encourages family cooks to follow simple steps to prepare the holiday feast safely.

To keep you and your loved ones safe this Thanksgiving, the American Red Cross offers these safety tips:

• Keep an eye on what you’re frying.
• Move flammable objects away from the stove.
• Avoid wearing loose clothing or baggy sleeves while cooking.
• Keep a pan lid or cookie sheet nearby.
• Turn pot handles to the back of the stove so no one can hit or pull on them.
• Use a timer to remind you that the stove or oven is on. Check the kitchen before going to bed or leaving home to make sure all stoves, ovens and small appliances are off.

“Home fires are a real threat to South Carolina communities during the Thanksgiving holiday,” said Yolanda Gainwell, Interim Executive Director of the South Carolina Red Cross. “In particular, cooking fires are the number one cause of home fires, year after year, Thanksgiving is the peak day for these tragedies. We at the Red Cross urge families to follow cooking safety steps to prevent your holiday feasts from going up in smoke.”

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